Vernon police on Saturday updated the status of the investigation into the skeletal remains found near 126 and 130 West St. this week.
Here is what has been determined so far by investigators. Police said any other claims are "speculation."
• Investigators continue to work to collect evidence from the scene, which is spread across several acres. Police have made "good progress" in the investigation and have located and collected many pieces of evidence.
• Vernon Police are working closely with the State Medical Examiner’s Office and the State Forensic Lab to identify the remains. No identification has been made at this time.
• The remains have been confirmed as human. Preliminary findings are "consistent with a single victim."
• The death is being treated as suspicious. However, no determination has been made as to the cause and manner of death at this time.
• Police are continuing to work with Dr. Nicholas Bellantoni, the state archaeologist from the University of Connecticut. Bellantoni will likely be the keynote speaker at a Sunday news conference.
• Investigators will be returning to the scene Sunday to continue collecting evidence. The scene is still considered a crime scene and police officers are posted there around the clock.
• No further information will be released before the next briefing, which will likely be sometime Sunday.
Police said anyone with information about the case should contact Det. James Grady at 860-872-9126 x201. Callers may remain anonymous.
The remains were found Wednesday by a 23-year-old resident. The land consists of two homes with a shared driveway built in 1992 and a tickly wooded area with a stream running through it. It used to be the town dump roughly four decades ago.
